Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the leading direct-action marine conservation non-profit perhaps best known from the hit Animal Planet TV series, Whale Wars, will hold the organization’s first public ship tours of one of its newest vessels, the M/V Farley Mowat, Saturday, Dec. 12 through Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. The crew of the Farley Mowat includes Bosun Conniss Adam, a crewmember of Sea Shepherd’s original Farley Mowat vessel active on the high seas from 2002 to 2008.

On these dates, tours of the Farley Mowat will befree and open to the public from 9am-6pm local time each day. In addition to providing tours of the vessel, the crew will share information about Sea Shepherd’s work to defend ocean wildlife and habitats worldwide and their first-hand experiences as crewmembers, and accept much-needed donations of funds, food and supplies from Sea Shepherd’s generous supporters. The tours will wrap up ahead of the ship’s departure for a marine conservation campaign in a location soon-to-be-announced.

Sea Shepherd recently unveiled the classic new design of the Farley Mowat, a former U.S. Coast Guard 110-foot Island-class cutter, which can be seen here. Painted white with black details and lettering, and featuring Sea Shepherd’s internationally known “Jolly Roger” logo, the ship also proudly bears the logo of JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation. The Foundation was created by longtime supporter and dear friend of Sea Shepherd, John Paul DeJoria – also the co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, recognized for making professional salon beauty products and for its commitment to the professional beauty industry – and supports charities that promote environmental sustainability, social responsibility and the protection of animals. DeJoria generously sponsored the purchase of the Farley Mowat, also made possible with a bequest left to Sea Shepherd by Sea Shepherd International Chair and famed Canadian writer and environmentalist Farley Mowat, who passed away in 2014.

The Farley Mowat is one of two additions to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society fleet acquired in January 2015 including a twin ship, the M/V Jules Verne, also a former U.S. Coast Guard 110-foot Island-class cutter, currently docked in Key West, Fla. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s three-ship fleet also includes research sailing vessel, the R/V Martin Sheen, which is now on active duty in Mexico’s Gulf of California for Vaquita Porpoise Defense Campaign, Operation Milagro II.

“All of us onboard the Farley Mowat are excited to welcome the public aboard our ship for the first time, to introduce one of the newest members of the Sea Shepherd fleet, and the members of our brave and passionate crew,” said Katie Adams, M/V Farley Mowat Ship Manager. “We have completed drydock, the ship is in excellent shape, and we will soon leave Tampa to defend ocean wildlife on the frontlines. We look forward to greeting Sea Shepherd’s supporters from right here in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area and surrounding regions throughout Florida. We hope they will come out to see us, tour our vessel, and lend their much-needed support for the voyage ahead.”

The crew of the Farley Mowat looks forward to welcoming the public aboard for tours. Those who are unable to visit the ship can donate or shop to support at seashepherd.org or via the ship’s Amazon.com wish list.